May Biscornu

I just love how a flat piece of stitching can be transformed into:


Once again I stitched this from a free chart (from the http://myauntsattic.web-log.nl/ website) on a piece of left over fabric using a skein of overdyed floss from my stash.

I think I have become obsessed with using stuff up and zippered pouches:

I have another three on the go in the same fabrics. My plan for this coming week is to have a clear out of my crafting stashes, or at least make a good start on getting organised & getting rid of stuff I no longer want. As well as sorting out my stash into what I want to keep & what I will get rid of (I have far too much, much more than I will ever use in this lifetime and it is time to say goodbye to some of it) I want to get all my WIPs into one place (& each WIP into its own bag) so that I can work on each & every one sometime in the near future.

Busy, Busy, Busy.

I am determined to make the most of not having to go to work and spent all day Friday being lazy sitting on my sofa catching up on all the TV programmes which I record each week and never seem to get around to watching. I managed to get the border completed on Monthly Musings along with the first four months.

Monthly Musings by Heart In Hand Needleart; progress as of 24 May 2009.

I also started a knitted baby blanket for my sisters new baby and a cardigan for myself. Other than scarfs and three socks I have never knitted an adult sized garment so thought this was as good a time as any to do so. Note to self - I really really must cast on a fourth sock to complete the second pair of socks.

Yesterday, Saturday, I spent some quality time with my sewing machine and made three more zippered pouches using the same fabric as before. I still have more of this fabric left so plan on making yet more pouches either to store my knitting / stitching projects in or as gifts for friends.

Weekend Report

I have been rather productive this weekend; I am coming to the conclusion that being stressed brings out my creative side. I have been stitching on Monthly Musings; which is coming along nicely. I am going to try and keep stitching on this till it is done possibly with a short break to stitch a biscornu. I think that one of my first tasks once I am no longer working (I am begining to create a rather long list of things to get done while I am unemployed) is to re-organise my stitching stash. Although I don't have a stitching plan I would like to sort out the WIPs which I like the most and am most likely to finish and try to work my way through them before starting something new.

And I also created a zippered bag to co-ordinate with my tote bag; I used the Cutie-Pie Case tutorial found on http://mellebugandme.wordpress.com/2008/01/16/cutie-pie-case-tutorial/ This is my first attempt at a zippered pouch and I am really pleased with how it has turned out. I now have rather grand plans to make several in different sizes to house all my knitting, stitching and sewing projects so I can do away with the plastic mesh bags I usually use. This one now houses all the threads and the small charts for Monthly Musings; as it is only 8" by 7" I will need to make a larger one for the fabric and border chart.

In other news my sister has just anounced that she is expecting her third child in Novemember; Mummy & baby are doing well and although they don't know the sex they do know there is only one in there. Sis and BIL were a little concerned since she is already showing (just at 12 weeks) and his brother & SIL have just had twins (they wanted one little boy to add to their 2 girls and have instead ended up with 4 girls).

Tote Bags & Biscornu

Firstly; thanks for all the good wishes it is great to know that I have friends; even if I don't have a job. I am finding out just how lucky I am to have the friends & family that I have got. Having hobbies which occupy both my hands & my mind is also helping me cope; unfortuately the current ecomomic climate means it is looking increasingly likely that I will be out of work for at least a few months.

Secondly I have just remembered to share with you the biscornu I made last month (in the last few hours of the month, there is nothing like doing things at the last minute).

This past weekend I met up with two stitching / sewing friends to discuss a group project that we are creating. For the last 2 years I have spent the first weekend of June in a Derbyshre cottage (Dove Farm) in the company of stitching friends. Children (unless they are breastfeeding babies) and husband are banded and the weekend is spent stitching, knitting, gossiping and laughing. This year we have been asked by the owner of the cottages if we would mind producing a wall hanging for her. So a trip to choose quilting fabric and a very enjoyable few hours looking in quilt shops followed. Once I got home I had the urge to get out the sewing machine and since I had liberated some very girly pink & purple fabrics (complete with ballet shoes and dancing mice) from my friend Sally's stash I created a small tote bag for my niece who has just started ballet lessons.

The bag is just a smaller version of the one I made for my mother last month and the one pictured below which I made for myself last weekend.

Enforced Change

I may well be a little quiet for awhile; I am currently struggling to come to terms with the fact that last week after 4 years in my current job (which I love) my employer informed me last week that I am to be made redundant. Which gives me 6 weeks to either find a new job or I will be unemployed for the first time in my life. It is somewhat ironic that the best job that I have ever had is the one that gets taken away from me. This weekend has been spent getting myself ready to try and get another job; which give the current economic climate may be hard but I will give it my best shot and if the worst happens & I become unemployed I have enough insurance plus a little bit of savings which means I will be able to survive for a few months. I certainaly have enough crafting stash to keep me occupied I will however have to make some drastic changes to my spending habbits but maybe a period of watching what I spend will be no bad thing.